Wryneck
Jynx torquilla
The Wryneck is a rare and irregular migrant to Britain, typically seen during the spring and autumn, often in woodland edges and heathlands. It is a distinctive and unusual bird, with a unique appearance that sets it apart from other woodpeckers.
Field Identification Guide
Use these features to identify Wryneck in the field.
The Wryneck can be identified by its mottled brown and grey plumage, long, rounded tail, and distinctive habit of twisting its neck when alarmed. Its head pattern, featuring a pale supercilium and dark stripe through the eye, is also a key identification feature.
The Wryneck is smaller than a Starling, measuring around 16-17 cm in length, and is one of the smallest woodpeckers found in the Old World.
The male Wryneck has a mottled brown and grey plumage, with a pale yellowish-brown crown and nape, and a dark brown stripe through the eye, with a pale supercilium above.
The female Wryneck is similar to the male, with a slightly duller and more subdued colouration, but the differences are not pronounced and the sexes can be difficult to distinguish.
The Wryneck's call is a sharp, shrill "kee-kee-kee" or "kyuk-kyuk-kyuk", often repeated in a series, and is a key way to locate this bird, especially during migration.
The Wryneck is a ground-foraging bird, feeding on ants and other insects, and has a distinctive, snake-like way of moving through vegetation, with a twisting, turning motion of its neck and body.
The Wryneck can be confused with the Green Woodpecker, but can be distinguished by its smaller size, more subdued plumage, and distinctive head pattern, as well as its unique neck-twisting behaviour.
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